EP1965268A1 - Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung mit einer Entwicklerkartusche - Google Patents

Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung mit einer Entwicklerkartusche Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1965268A1
EP1965268A1 EP08003592A EP08003592A EP1965268A1 EP 1965268 A1 EP1965268 A1 EP 1965268A1 EP 08003592 A EP08003592 A EP 08003592A EP 08003592 A EP08003592 A EP 08003592A EP 1965268 A1 EP1965268 A1 EP 1965268A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
arm
rotational
rotation
detecting
image forming
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP08003592A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1965268B1 (de
Inventor
Satoru Ishikawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Brother Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brother Industries Ltd filed Critical Brother Industries Ltd
Publication of EP1965268A1 publication Critical patent/EP1965268A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1965268B1 publication Critical patent/EP1965268B1/de
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
    • G03G15/0875—Arrangements for supplying new developer cartridges having a box like shape
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
    • G03G15/0849—Detection or control means for the developer concentration
    • G03G15/0855—Detection or control means for the developer concentration the concentration being measured by optical means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
    • G03G2215/06—Developing structures, details
    • G03G2215/066—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/163—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for the developer unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/18—Cartridge systems
    • G03G2221/183—Process cartridge
    • G03G2221/1892—Presence detection

Definitions

  • One aspect of the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which can perform new-product detection and type detection of the developer cartridge.
  • JP-A-2006-267994 discloses an image forming apparatus capable of determining whether the attached developer cartridge is a new product (new-product detection) and also determining type of the developer cartridge (type detection) (see JP-A-2006-267994 ).
  • the image forming apparatus disclosed in JP-A-2006-267994 includes, in a main unit, a swingable arm-shaped actuator, a spring that urges the actuator to a neutral position, a sensor that detects a swing of the actuator, and a controller that carries out new-product detection and type detection based on signals from the sensor.
  • the image forming apparatus includes, in the developer cartridge, one or two contact projections extending radially outside from a predetermined shaft portion and a sensing gear that rotates around the shaft portion integrally with the contact projection.
  • the contact projection presses one end of the actuator to swing the actuator, and this swing is detected by the sensor.
  • a signal detected by this sensor is sent to the controller as a first detection signal.
  • the controller determines, if having received this first detection signal, that the developer cartridge is a new product.
  • the idle rotation operation means an operation to rotate an agitator in the cartridge in order to agitate the toner contained in the developer cartridge.
  • a transmission force from a drive source provided in the main unit is transmitted to the agitator and the sensing gear on the developer cartridge side via a plurality of gears.
  • agitation of the toner by the agitator is started, and the contact projection is rotated to further press the end of the actuator and separates from the actuator at a predetermined position.
  • the actuator is to return to the neutral position due to an urging force of the spring.
  • the second contact projection again presses the end of the actuator to swing the actuator, and this swing is detected by the sensor.
  • a signal detected by this sensor is sent to the controller as a second detection signal.
  • the controller determines that the developer cartridge has a type A (for example, a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000). Meanwhile, when the controller does not receive the second detection signal, the controller determines that the developer cartridge has a type B (for example, a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 3000) different from the type A.
  • a type A for example, a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000.
  • the controller determines that the developer cartridge has a type B (for example, a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 3000) different from the type A.
  • the type have been detected based on the number of times the contact projection contacts with the actuator. Therefore, in order to make the two contact projections contact with the actuator, it is necessary to increase the amount of rotation of the sensing gear. For this reason, the moving range of the contact projections is increased. In addition, for the necessity of providing other elements outside the moving range thus increased, the size of the developer cartridge cannot be reduced.
  • One aspect of the invention has an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which can satisfactorily carry out new-product detection and type detection and can reduce the size of the developer cartridge.
  • an image forming apparatus comprising: a main unit; and a developer cartridge detachably attached to the main unit, wherein the developing cartridge comprises: a rotation body having a rotational axis and rotatable in a rotation direction; and one rotational arm of a first rotational arm or two rotational arms of the first rotational arm and a second rotational arm which are rotatable around the rotational axis, and the main unit comprises: a driving unit configured to rotate the rotation body in the rotation direction; a detecting arm swingable from a neutral position toward a first swing direction and toward a second swing direction opposite to the first swing direction; an elastic member that urges the detecting arm toward a neutral position; a detecting unit configured to detect a swing of the detecting arm; and a determining unit configured to determine whether the developer cartridge is a new product according to the presence of a swing of the detecting arm detected by the detecting unit and determine type of the developer cartridge according to a number of swings detected by the detecting unit,
  • Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a developer cartridge of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 3000;
  • Fig. 3 is a side view of the developer cartridge of Fig. 2 ;
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a developer cartridge of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000;
  • Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the developer cartridge has been removed from a main casing
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing respective elements of a new-product/type detecting device
  • Figs. 7A to 7D are views for explaining operations of the rotation body and the like when a developer cartridge of a type, where the maximum sheets to be printed are 3000, is attached to the main casing, wherein Fig. 7A is an explanatory view showing a state before the attachment, Fig. 7B is an explanatory view showing a state immediately after the attachment, Fig. 7C is an explanatory view showing an operation during an idle rotation operation, and Fig. 7D is an explanatory view showing a state where the rotation body has been irreversibly rotated; and
  • Figs. 8A to 8D are views for explaining operations of the rotation body and the like when a developer cartridge of a type, where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000, is attached to the main casing, wherein Fig. 8A is an explanatory view showing a state before the attachment, Fig. 8B is an explanatory view showing a state immediately after the attachment, Fig. 8C is an explanatory view showing an operation during an idle rotation operation, and Fig. 8D is an explanatory view showing a state where the rotation body has been irreversibly rotated.
  • Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Also, in the following description, the entire configuration of a laser printer will be briefly described at first, and then the details of the configuration will be described. In the following description, descriptions will be given in directions with reference to a user when using a laser printer 1. That is, in Fig.
  • the right side is referred to as "a front side”
  • the left side is referred to as “a rear side”
  • a back side in the direction vertical to the sheet surface is referred to as “a right side”
  • a near side in the direction vertical to the sheet surface is referred to as “a left side.”
  • an up-and-down direction since the illustrated direction is coincident with a direction when a user uses the laser printer, this is referred to as “an up-and-down direction" as it is.
  • the laser printer 1 provided as an image forming apparatus mainly includes a feeder unit 4 for feeding a sheet 3 into a main casing 2 provided as a main unit, and an image forming unit 5 for forming an image on the fed sheet 3.
  • the feeder unit 4 includes a sheet feeding tray 6 that is detachably attached to a bottom portion in the main casing 2 and a sheet pressing plate 7 provided in the sheet feeding tray 6.
  • the feeder unit 4 includes a send-out roller 11 provided above a one side end portion of the sheet feeding tray 6 and a feed roller 8, a feed pad 9, a pinch roller 10, and a paper dust removing roller 50 provided at a downstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet 3 with respect to this send-out roller 11.
  • the feeder unit 4 includes a registration roller 12 provided at a downstream side with respect to the paper dust removing roller 50.
  • the sheets 3 in the sheet feeding tray 6 are brought close to the send-out roller 11 side by the sheet pressing plate 7, and sent out by the send-out roller 11 between the feed roller 8 and the feed pad 9.
  • the sheets 3 are sent out one by one by the feed roller 8 and the feed pad 9 to pass through the various rollers 10, 50, and 12, and then conveyed to the image forming unit 5.
  • the image forming unit 5 mainly includes a scanner unit 16, a process cartridge 17, and a fixing unit 18.
  • the scanner unit 16 is provided at an upper portion in the main casing 2 and mainly includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 19 that is driven to rotate, lenses 20 and 21, and reflecting mirrors 22 and 23.
  • a laser beam emitted from the laser light emitting unit and based on image data is, as shown by dot-dash lines, passed through or reflected on the polygon mirror 19, the lens 20, the reflecting mirror 22, the lens 21, and the reflecting mirror 23 in this order, and is irradiated onto the surface of a photosensitive drum 27 of the process cartridge 17 by high-speed scanning.
  • the process cartridge 17 is detachably attached to the main casing 2 by appropriately opening a front cover 2a provided at the front side of the main casing 2.
  • This process cartridge 17 mainly includes a developer cartridge 28 and a drum unit 51.
  • the developer cartridge 28 is detachably attached to the main casing 2 via the drum unit 51, more specifically, detachably attached to the drum unit 51 fixed to the main casing 2. Also, the attachment of this developer cartridge 28 to the main casing 2 may be carried out with the developer cartridge 28 alone, or may be carried out with the process cartridge 17 for which the drum unit 51 is attached to the developer cartridge 28.
  • the developer cartridge 28 mainly includes a developing roller 31, a layer thickness restricting blade 32, a supply roller 33, and a toner hopper 34.
  • a toner in the toner hopper 34 is supplied to the developing roller 31 by the supply roller 33 after being agitated by an agitator 34a, and is, at this time, frictionally charged positively between the supply roller 33 and the developing roller 31.
  • the toner supplied onto the developing roller 31 enters between the layer thickness restricting blade 32 and the developing roller 31 with a rotation of the developing roller 31 and is supported on the developing roller 31 as a thin layer with a fixed thickness. Also, details of the developer cartridge 28 will be described later.
  • the drum unit 51 mainly includes the photosensitive drum 27, a scorotron charger 29, and a transfer roller 30.
  • the photosensitive drum 27 is rotatably supported on a case of the drum unit 51.
  • a drum body is grounded, and its surface part is formed of a positively charged photosensitive layer.
  • an exposure window 51a formed in a hole shape on the case of the drum unit 51.
  • the scorotron charger 29 is arranged obliquely above the photosensitive drum 27 (more specifically, at the rear side and the upper side of the photosensitive drum 27) at a distance of a predetermined interval so as not to contact with the photosensitive drum 27.
  • This scorotron charger 29 is a scorotron charger for positive charging that produces a corona discharge from a charging wire made of tungsten or the like, and is configured so as to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 with a positive polarity.
  • the transfer roller 30 is arranged, below the photosensitive drum 27, so as to be opposed to and contact with this photosensitive drum 27, and is rotatably supported on the case of the drum unit 51.
  • This transfer roller 30 is formed by covering a metallic roller shaft with a conductive rubber material. This transfer roller 30 is applied with a transfer bias by constant current control at the time of transfer.
  • the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is uniformly positively charged by the scorotron charger 29, and is then exposed with light by high-speed scanning of a laser beam from the scanner unit 16. Thereby, an exposed part is lowered in potential to form an electrostatic latent image based on image data.
  • the "electrostatic latent image” denotes, of the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 uniformly positively charged, the exposed part lowered in potential by being exposed with a laser beam.
  • the toner supported on the developing roller 31 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 when the developing roller 31 is opposed to and contacts with the photosensitive drum 27. Then, the toner is formed into a visible image by being selectively supported on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27, whereby a toner image is formed by reversal development.
  • the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 30 are driven to rotate so as to convey the sheet 3 while sandwiching the same therebetween, and as a result of the sheet 3 being conveyed between the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 30, the toner image supported on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is transferred onto the sheet 3.
  • the fixing unit 18 is disposed at a downstream side of the process cartridge 17, and includes a heating roller 41 and a pressing roller 42 that is arranged in a manner opposed to the heating roller 41 and presses the heating roller 41.
  • the toner transferred onto the sheet 3 is thermally fixed during the time the sheet 3 passes between the heating roller 41 and the pressing roller 42.
  • the sheet 3 thermally fixed by the fixing portion 18 is conveyed to a discharge roller 45 disposed at a downstream side of the fixing portion 18, and is sent out from this sheet discharging roller 45 onto a sheet discharging tray 46.
  • the developer cartridge 28 is formed not only with the developing roller 31 and the like but also with a cartridge body 60 and a cover body 70 detachably mounted to a left side surface of the cartridge body 60. Between the cartridge body 60 and the cover body 70, provided is a gear mechanism 61 for transmitting a driving force to the developing roller 31 and a rotation body 80 that is irreversibly rotatable in one direction.
  • the gear mechanism 61 is, as shown in Fig. 3 , formed with an input gear 62 transmitted with a driving force from a driving device 90 (see Fig. 5 ) provided on the main casing 2 side, a developing roller driving gear 63 and a supply roller driving gear 64 directly meshed with this input gear 62, and an agitator driving gear 66 meshed with the input gear 62 via an intermediate gear 65.
  • the developing roller driving gear 63, the supply roller driving gear 64, and the agitator driving gear 66 are gears to drive the developing roller 31, the supply roller 33, and the agitator 34a shown in Fig. 1 , respectively, and are integrally provided at the end portions of respective axes of the developing roller 31, the supply roller 33, and the agitator 34a.
  • the rotation body 80 includes a disk 81 formed with a circular hole 81a at the center, a circular cylindrical shaft portion 82 as a rotational axis formed in a condition standing leftward from the circumference of the hole 81a of the disk 81, and a gear tooth portion 83 formed at a part of the outer circumferential surface of the disk 81.
  • a rotational arm 84 extending along the rotational axis of the rotation body 80 and protruding from the surface of the cover body 70.
  • the number of the rotational arms 84 is set according to the type of the developer cartridge 28.
  • the developer cartridge 28 of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 3000 is provided with, as shown in Fig. 2 , only one rotational arm 84, and the developer cartridge 28 of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000 is provided with, as shown in Fig. 4 , two rotational arms 84 and 85. That is, the developer cartridge 28 of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000 is provided with, in addition to the rotational arm 84 of the rotation body 80 used in the type of 3000 images, the second rotational arm 85 deviated by almost 90° to the rear side from the rotational arm 84.
  • rotational arm 84 used for both types is referred to as “a first rotational arm 84”
  • rotational arm 85 used only for the type of 6000 images is referred to as “a second rotational arm 85.”
  • the rotation body 80 has, at a part other than the gear tooth portion 83 of its outer circumferential surface, a toothless portion 81b having no gear teeth, and is structured so as to rotate with the intermediate gear 65 when the gear tooth portion 83 meshes with the intermediate gear 65 and so as to be restrained when the gear tooth portion 83 separates from the intermediate gear 65.
  • the gear tooth portion 83 is formed in the range of a part of a pitch circle that rotationally contacts with the intermediate gear 65, and this makes the rotation body 80 irreversibly rotatable in one direction.
  • the rotating direction of the rotation body 80 in the present embodiment is clockwise in a view from the left surface of the developer cartridge 28.
  • the cover body 70 is used in common with both types irrespective of the type of the developer cartridge 28. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, description will be given of the cover body 70 used for the type of 6000 images as a representative.
  • the cover body 70 mainly formed is an arc-shaped long groove 71 through which the first rotational arm 84 and the second rotational arm 85 of the rotation body 80 are inserted, a groove peripheral wall 72 protruding from the periphery of the long groove 71 toward the left side (outside), and an opening portion 70a that exposes the input gear 62 outward.
  • a protective wall 73 that encloses the respective rotational arms 84 and 85 from three directions of the rear, front, and left sides.
  • the protective wall 73 prevents an external force from acting on the respective rotational arms 84 and 85 from the three directions of the rear, front, and left sides.
  • this protective wall 73 is, in order to protect the respective rotational arms 84 and 85 arranged in a manner deviated by almost 90°, formed in an approximately quarter fan shape in a view from the left side surface.
  • a protective wall 74 that encloses the second rotational arm 85 from the three rear, front, and left sides.
  • the groove peripheral wall 72 other than the protective walls 73 and 74 is formed so as to be lower than the front end of the first rotational arm 84.
  • the first rotational arm 84 contacts at that attaching position with a part of the main casing 2 in the front and rear direction.
  • "a part of the main casing 2" also includes elements of a device mounted on the main casing 2, and denotes, in the present embodiment, a detecting arm 93 of a new-product/ type detecting device 91 to be described later (see Fig. 5 ).
  • the driving device 90 that transmits a driving force to the input gear 62 of the developer cartridge 28 and the new-product/type detecting device 91 that detects whether the developer cartridge 28 is a new product and type of the developer cartridge 28.
  • the driving device 90 includes an unillustrated plurality of gears and drive motor. As a result of a gear on the driving device 90 side meshing with the input gear 62 when the developer cartridge 28 is attached to the inside of the main casing 2, a driving force from the drive motor is transmitted to the input gear 62 via the respective gears.
  • the gear to mesh with the input gear 62 is structured so as to advance and retract with respect to the developer cartridge 28 in conjunction with opening and closing of the front cover 2a, for example.
  • the gear to mesh with the input gear 62 when the front cover 2a is closed, advances toward the developer cartridge 28 and meshes with the input gear 62, and when the front cover 2a is opened, retracts from the developer cartridge 28, and the meshing with the input gear 62 is released.
  • the new-product/type detecting device 91 is, as shown in Fig. 6 , formed mainly with an optical sensor 92 provided as a detecting unit, a detecting arm 93, a coil spring 94 provided as an elastic member, and a controller 95 provided as a determining unit.
  • the optical sensor 92 is a sensor that detects a swing of the detecting arm 93, and includes a light emitting unit 92a that emits light and a light receiving unit 92b that receives light emitted from the light emitting unit 92a. This optical sensor 92 outputs a predetermined signal to the controller 95 when having received light from the light emitting unit 92a by the light receiving unit 92b.
  • the detecting arm 93 includes a cylindrical portion 93a rotatably attached to an unillustrated shaft portion provided on the main casing 2 and a light blocking arm 93b and a contacting arm 93c extending radially outside from the cylindrical portion 93a, and is formed so as to be swingable around the cylindrical portion 93a.
  • the coil spring 94 is mounted at an appropriate place of the light blocking arm 93b of the detecting arm 93, whereby the detecting arm 93 is always urged to a neutral position by the coil spring 94.
  • the detecting arm 93 is swingable from the neutral position in a first swing direction (clockwise direction in Fig.
  • a front end portion (one portion away from the swinging center) 93d of the light blocking arm 93b is arranged between the light emitting unit 92a and the light receiving unit 92b.
  • a front end portion (the other portion away from the swinging center) 93e of the contacting arm 93c is arranged at a position where contact with the first rotational arm 84 of the developer cartridge 28 attached to the main casing 2 is possible (an opposing position).
  • the controller 95 has a function to determine whether the developer cartridge 28 is a new product according to the presence of a swing of the detecting arm 93 detected by the optical sensor 92 and determine type of the developer cartridge 28 according to the number of swings detected by the optical sensor 92. Concretely, this controller 95 executes a known idle rotation operation based on a closing signal from a sensor that senses a closing operation of the front cover 2a or a signal generated when the laser printer 1 is powered on. This controller 95 determines, when not having received any signal from the optical sensor 92 in a time between the start and end of the idle rotation operation, that the developer cartridge 28 is an old product.
  • controller 95 when the controller 95 has received a signal from the optical sensor 92 only once within the time, it is determined that the developer cartridge 28 is a new product and is of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 3000. Furthermore, when the controller 95 has received a signal from the optical sensor 92 twice within the time, it is determined that the developer cartridge 28 is a new product and is of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000. However, since the process (control method) for a new-product determination and a type determination is known (see JP-A-2006-267994 , for example), detailed description thereof will be omitted.
  • the first rotational arm 84 is located at almost the center of the long groove 71 (the rotation body 80 is positioned at a first rotation position), and at this position, the gear tooth portion 83 is arranged at a position separated from the intermediate gear 65.
  • the first rotational arm 84 contacts with the contacting arm 93c of the detecting arm 93.
  • the first rotational arm 84 contacts with the contacting arm 93c of the detecting arm 93 always urged to the neutral position by the coil spring 94 and its movement is restrained, and the first rotational arm 84 thus relatively moves to the front side by a predetermined amount with respect to the developer cartridge 28 that is moving to the mounting position (the rotation body 80 moves to a fourth rotation position).
  • the rotation body 80 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined amount, and the gear tooth portion 83 of the rotation body 80 is pressed against the intermediate gear 65 and meshes therewith.
  • the intermediate gear 65 restrains the rotation body 80 from rotation, and the first rotational arm 84 again moves with the developer cartridge 28 to press the contacting arm 93c to the rear side against an urging force of the coil spring 94.
  • the light blocking arm 93b of the detecting arm 93 is swung to the front side, light from the light emitting unit 92a is received by the light receiving unit 92b, and the optical sensor 92 is turned on to output a predetermined ON signal to the controller 95.
  • the controller 95 executes an idle rotation operation based on, for example, a signal indicating a closing operation of the front cover 2a. Also, at the start of this idle rotation operation, the controller 95 has been continuously receiving the ON signal.
  • the rotation body 80 rotates and, as shown in Fig. 7D , the first rotational arm 84 is located at a most front end of the long groove 71, the gear tooth portion 83 separates from the intermediate gear 65 and the rotation body 80 is restrained from rotation (the rotation body 80 moves to the third rotation position).
  • the gear portion 84 and the intermediate gear 65 may be separated from each other at any position between the fourth rotation position and the third rotation position. That is, the rotation body 80 rotates irreversibly around equal to or less than 360 degrees in one direction.
  • the controller 95 determines that the developer cartridge 28 is a new product and is of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 3000 based on the single signal (ON signal from the optical sensor 92) received during the idle rotation operation.
  • the first rotational arm 84 is located at almost the center of the long groove 71, and the second rotational arm 85 is located at the rear end of the long groove 71 (the rotation body 80 is positioned at a first rotation position).
  • the first rotational arm 84 contacts with the contacting arm 93c of the detecting arm 93 from the front side. Then, when the developer cartridge 28 is inserted further (and the rotation body 80 moves to a fourth rotation position), by the first rotational arm 84 of the rotation body 80 locked by meshing between the gear teeth portion 83 and the intermediate gear 65, the contacting arm 93c of the detecting arm 93 is swung to the rear side, and this swing is detected by the optical sensor 92. At this time, the optical sensor 92 sends a first ON signal to the controller 95.
  • the controller 95 executes the same idle rotation operation as in the above.
  • the rotation body 80 rotates clockwise, and the second rotational arm 85 moves to the front side along the long groove 71.
  • the second rotational arm 85 moving as such contacts with the contacting arm 93c of the detecting arm 93 from the rear side to swing this contacting arm 93c to the front side.
  • the light blocking arm 93b of the detecting arm 93 is swung to the rear side, and the optical sensor 92 is turned on, so that a second ON signal is sent to the controller 95.
  • the rotation body 80 irreversibly rotates (the rotation body 80 positioned at the third position), and the detecting arm 93 returns to the neutral position. Then, after ending the idle rotation operation, the controller 95 determines that the developer cartridge 28 is a new product and is of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000 based on the two signals (the number of swings of the detecting arm 93) received during the idle rotation operation.
  • first rotational arm 84 and the second rotational arm 85 By appropriately providing the first rotational arm 84 and the second rotational arm 85, new-product detection and type detection can be satisfactorily carried out. Further, since the amount of rotation of the rotation body 80 can be reduced by differentiating the direction in which the detecting arm 93 is pressed between the first rotational arm 84 and the second rotational arm 85, the size of the developer cartridge 28 can be reduced.
  • the gear tooth portion 83 of the rotation body 80 meshes with the intermediate gear 65 as a result of the first rotational arm 84 being moved by the contacting arm 93c to the front side relatively with respect to the developer cartridge 28 when the developer cartridge 28 is attached to the main casing 2, so that in a state before attachment, the gear tooth portion 83 and the intermediate gear 65 are maintained in an unmeshed state unless a force is applied to the first rotational arm 84. Accordingly, at the time of testing before factory shipment, even when the respective gears 62 to 66 of the developer cartridge 28 are rotated, since the rotation body 80 never rotates with the respective gears 62 to 66, the first rotational arm 84 can be kept maintained at a regular position until the developer cartridge 28 is mounted on the main casing 2.
  • the protective wall 74 that encloses the second rotational arm 85 from the three rear, front, and left sides being formed at the rear end of the long groove 71, when the second rotational arm 85 is located at the rear end of the long groove 71, the protective wall 74 prevents an external force from acting on the second rotational arm 85 from the three rear, front, and left sides. Therefore, for example, at the time of testing before factory shipment, the second rotational arm 85 is inhibited from being pressed by an operator or the like, and the second rotational arm 85 and the first rotational arm 84 can be reliably kept maintained at the regular positions.
  • this protective wall 74 is formed at the obliquely lower rear side of the first rotational arm 84, the protective wall 74 also prevents an external force from acting on the first rotational arm 84 from the obliquely lower rear side. Therefore, for example, at the time of testing before factory shipment, the first rotational arm 84 is inhibited from being pressed by an operator or the like from the obliquely lower rear side, and the first rotational arm 84 can be reliably kept maintained at the regular position.
  • the protective wall 73 that encloses the respective rotational arms 84 and 85 from the three rear, front, and left sides being formed at the front end of the long groove 71, when the first rotational arm 84 is located at the front end of the long groove 71, the protective wall 73 prevents an external force from acting on the respective rotational arms 84 and 85 from the three rear, front, and left sides.
  • the present invention can be used in various embodiments as exemplified in the following without being limited to the above embodiment.
  • the detecting arm 93 has been made so as to be swingable by supporting almost a central portion of the detecting arm 93 about an axis, however, the present invention is not limited hereto, and one end of the detecting arm may be supported about an axis, for example. Also, in this case, it is sufficient, for example, to arrange the other end of the detecting arm at a position where contact with the rotational arm is possible and arrange a part between one end and the other end of the detecting arm between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor.
  • the gear tooth portion 83 and the intermediate gear 65 have been meshed with each other by making the first rotational arm 84 contact with the detecting arm 93 when the developer cartridge 28 is attached to the main casing 2, however, the present invention is not limited hereto. That is, any object with which the first rotational arm 84 is made to contact is acceptable as long as it is a part of the main casing 2 (an element on the main casing 2 side). However, since setting the object with which the first rotational arm 84 is made to contact as the detecting arm 93 as in the present embodiment makes it possible to suppress the number of elements, such a manner as in the above embodiment is desirable.
  • one optical sensor 92 is provided at a position corresponding to the neutral position of the detecting arm 93.
  • the number and position of optical sensor is not limited to this example.
  • a plurality of optical sensors may be disposed at different positions instead of the optical sensor 92.
  • two optical sensors 921 and 922 may be disposed at positions across a position corresponding to the neutral position of the detection arm 93 from each other.
  • the optical sensor 921 is disposed at a position corresponding to a position downstream of the neutral position with respect to the front side direction in Figs. 7A to 8D (the first swing direction)
  • the optical sensor 922 is disposed at a position corresponding to a position downstream of the neutral position with respect to the rear side direction in Figs. 7A to 8D (the second swing direction).
  • the optical sensor 921 is shown only in Figs. 7A, 7B , 8A and 8B and the optical sensor 922 is shown only in Figs. 7A , 8A and 8C for simplification.
  • the controller 95 when the controller 95 detects the turn OFF of the optical sensor 921 ( Fig. 7B ) and does not detect the turn OFF of the optical sensor 922 during the idle rotation operation, the controller 95 determines that the developer cartridge 28 is a new product and is of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 3000.
  • the controller 95 when the controller 95 detects the turn OFF of both the optical sensor 921 ( Fig. 8B ) and the optical sensor 922 ( Fig. 8C ) during the idle rotation operation, the controller 95 determines that the developer cartridge 28 is a new product and is of a type where the maximum sheets to be printed are 6000.
  • the optical sensor 92 has been employed as the detecting unit, however, the present invention is not limited hereto, and a distance sensor (an ultrasonic sensor, an optical sensor, or the like) or the like that detects the position of the front end of the detecting arm may be employed, for example.
  • a swing of the detecting arm can also be detected by providing a leaf spring so as to contact with the detecting arm and providing a strain gauge on this leaf spring.
  • the coil spring 94 has been employed as the elastic member, however, the present invention is not limited hereto, and a torsion spring or a leaf spring may be used.
  • the present invention has been applied to the laser printer 1, however, the present invention is not limited hereto, and the present invention may be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as, for example, copiers and multi function devices.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Control Or Security For Electrophotography (AREA)
EP08003592A 2007-02-28 2008-02-27 Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung mit einer Entwicklerkartusche Not-in-force EP1965268B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2007050723A JP4893369B2 (ja) 2007-02-28 2007-02-28 画像形成装置

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1965268A1 true EP1965268A1 (de) 2008-09-03
EP1965268B1 EP1965268B1 (de) 2012-04-11

Family

ID=39467301

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08003592A Not-in-force EP1965268B1 (de) 2007-02-28 2008-02-27 Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung mit einer Entwicklerkartusche

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US8090272B2 (de)
EP (1) EP1965268B1 (de)
JP (1) JP4893369B2 (de)
CN (1) CN101295157B (de)
AT (1) ATE553420T1 (de)

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JP2012177859A (ja) * 2011-02-28 2012-09-13 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置
US9207567B2 (en) 2010-08-31 2015-12-08 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cap configuration for a toner cartridge
US9594329B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-14 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge
US9599929B2 (en) 2010-03-31 2017-03-21 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge and image forming apparatus
US9599954B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-21 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge
US9599953B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-21 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge
US9606504B2 (en) 2013-09-20 2017-03-28 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming device
US9606503B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-28 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge
US9606473B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-28 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge having detected member
US9605734B2 (en) 2013-06-28 2017-03-28 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge provided with movable detected body
US9612553B2 (en) 2013-10-31 2017-04-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge having agitator and rotary member with detected portion
US9612548B2 (en) 2011-11-24 2017-04-04 Brother Kogyo Labushiki Kaisha Cartridge provided with pivotable member for new product detection
US9612569B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-04-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge with multiple rotary members
US9618879B2 (en) 2014-01-06 2017-04-11 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Developing cartridge
US9639026B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-05-02 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge with transmission gear and toothless gear
US9714696B2 (en) 2013-06-28 2017-07-25 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge provided with body for new product detection

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JP5029066B2 (ja) 2007-02-28 2012-09-19 ブラザー工業株式会社 画像形成装置
JP4458122B2 (ja) * 2007-06-29 2010-04-28 ブラザー工業株式会社 カートリッジ
CN101625537B (zh) * 2009-08-05 2013-03-13 珠海赛纳打印科技股份有限公司 一种带有计数机构的显影盒
JP5136582B2 (ja) 2010-03-24 2013-02-06 ブラザー工業株式会社 現像カートリッジ
US8494380B2 (en) * 2011-03-25 2013-07-23 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Developer storage unit and method for manufacturing recycling product
JP5716498B2 (ja) 2011-03-31 2015-05-13 ブラザー工業株式会社 カートリッジ
JP5348211B2 (ja) 2011-08-31 2013-11-20 ブラザー工業株式会社 現像カートリッジ
JP5413427B2 (ja) 2011-08-31 2014-02-12 ブラザー工業株式会社 画像形成装置
JP5413428B2 (ja) 2011-08-31 2014-02-12 ブラザー工業株式会社 カートリッジ
JP5182402B2 (ja) * 2011-08-31 2013-04-17 ブラザー工業株式会社 カートリッジ
JP5348209B2 (ja) 2011-08-31 2013-11-20 ブラザー工業株式会社 カートリッジ
JP5884343B2 (ja) 2011-08-31 2016-03-15 ブラザー工業株式会社 プロセスカートリッジおよび現像カートリッジ
JP5863364B2 (ja) 2011-09-29 2016-02-16 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成装置及び補給カートリッジ
JP5887931B2 (ja) 2011-12-28 2016-03-16 ブラザー工業株式会社 カートリッジおよび画像形成装置
JP5887930B2 (ja) 2011-12-28 2016-03-16 ブラザー工業株式会社 カートリッジおよび画像形成装置
CN103149816B (zh) * 2013-03-15 2014-12-17 珠海天威飞马打印耗材有限公司 激光打印机用显影盒
CN103149817B (zh) * 2013-03-22 2014-12-17 珠海天威飞马打印耗材有限公司 激光打印机用显影盒
CN104423207B (zh) * 2013-08-23 2019-03-19 纳思达股份有限公司 显影剂盒及其检测方法、图像形成装置
JP6244849B2 (ja) * 2013-11-20 2017-12-13 ブラザー工業株式会社 画像形成装置
JP2017181527A (ja) * 2016-03-28 2017-10-05 ブラザー工業株式会社 現像カートリッジ
CN206594452U (zh) * 2016-04-22 2017-10-27 纳思达股份有限公司 显影盒
CN109752936B (zh) * 2017-11-06 2024-01-26 纳思达股份有限公司 显影盒和图像形成装置

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EP1696283A1 (de) * 2005-02-28 2006-08-30 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung und Entwicklerkartusche mit Informationsbauteil für anfängliche Entwicklermenge
EP1696284A2 (de) * 2005-02-28 2006-08-30 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung und Entwicklerkartusche mit Informationsbauteil für anfängliche Entwicklermenge
JP2007050723A (ja) 2005-08-16 2007-03-01 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 三輪自転車

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JPH06258910A (ja) 1993-03-03 1994-09-16 Canon Inc 多色画像形成装置
JP3472111B2 (ja) * 1997-11-06 2003-12-02 キヤノン株式会社 現像剤残量検知装置および画像形成装置
JP4310703B2 (ja) * 2005-02-28 2009-08-12 ブラザー工業株式会社 画像形成装置および現像カートリッジ
CN200962188Y (zh) * 2005-02-28 2007-10-17 兄弟工业株式会社 显影剂盒
EP1965272B1 (de) * 2007-02-28 2014-11-19 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Kartusche mit Getriebe und einem Rotationskörper

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EP1696283A1 (de) * 2005-02-28 2006-08-30 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung und Entwicklerkartusche mit Informationsbauteil für anfängliche Entwicklermenge
EP1696284A2 (de) * 2005-02-28 2006-08-30 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung und Entwicklerkartusche mit Informationsbauteil für anfängliche Entwicklermenge
JP2006267994A (ja) 2005-02-28 2006-10-05 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置および現像カートリッジ
JP2007050723A (ja) 2005-08-16 2007-03-01 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 三輪自転車

Cited By (18)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9599929B2 (en) 2010-03-31 2017-03-21 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge and image forming apparatus
US9612552B2 (en) 2010-03-31 2017-04-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge and image forming apparatus
US9207567B2 (en) 2010-08-31 2015-12-08 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cap configuration for a toner cartridge
US9612551B2 (en) 2010-08-31 2017-04-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cap configuration for a toner cartridge
JP2012177859A (ja) * 2011-02-28 2012-09-13 Brother Ind Ltd 画像形成装置
US9612548B2 (en) 2011-11-24 2017-04-04 Brother Kogyo Labushiki Kaisha Cartridge provided with pivotable member for new product detection
US9714696B2 (en) 2013-06-28 2017-07-25 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge provided with body for new product detection
US9605734B2 (en) 2013-06-28 2017-03-28 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge provided with movable detected body
US9606504B2 (en) 2013-09-20 2017-03-28 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming device
US9612553B2 (en) 2013-10-31 2017-04-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge having agitator and rotary member with detected portion
US9618879B2 (en) 2014-01-06 2017-04-11 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Developing cartridge
US9606473B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-28 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge having detected member
US9612569B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-04-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge with multiple rotary members
US9606503B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-28 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge
US9599953B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-21 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge
US9599954B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-21 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge
US9639026B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-05-02 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge with transmission gear and toothless gear
US9594329B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2017-03-14 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP4893369B2 (ja) 2012-03-07
ATE553420T1 (de) 2012-04-15
CN101295157B (zh) 2010-12-01
EP1965268B1 (de) 2012-04-11
US8090272B2 (en) 2012-01-03
US20080205928A1 (en) 2008-08-28
CN101295157A (zh) 2008-10-29
JP2008216392A (ja) 2008-09-18

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